Stephen R. McInerny II
Division Chief/Support Services
Fort Lauderdale Fire-Rescue Department

The Fort Lauderdale Fire-Rescue Department received a reported house fire this morning at 00:47 hours at 1230 Northeast 2nd Avenue. Engine Co.'s 46, 29, 2, Quint Co.'s 2, 49, Battalion 2, Battalion 29, EMS 13 and Support 13 responded.

The first arriving unit in four minutes (00:51) was Engine Co. 46 advising a "Working Fire" with heavy smoke and flames from a single story wood-frame residential structure along with a fully involved car parked next to the house. Two 1-3/4" hoselines were stretched and operated as a five inch hydrant supply line was laid.

The officer of Engine Co. 46 located two severely burned victims at the rear door of the house on a porch area while conducting a primary search. The victims were treated on the scene by Fort Lauderdale Fire-Rescue Firefighter Paramedics and transported as "Trauma Alerts" to Broward General Medical Center in Fort Lauderdale.

A 38 year-old white male was burned over 80% of his body and an unknown age white female was burned over 50% of her body. Both patients were subsequently flown via helicopter from Broward General Medical Center at approximately 03:00 hours to the Jackson Memorial Burn Center in Miami where they are both in extremely critical condition.

The fire is currently being investigated by the Fort Lauderdale Fire-Rescue Inspection Services Bureau and the Fort Lauderdale Police Department. Both agencies are being assisted by the State Fire Marshall's Office. It doesn't appear that the house was equipped with working smoke detectors. Metal bars were found to line the inside of the windows which may have hampered the escape of the occupants.

The house and vehicle are reported to be a complete loss at approximately $50,000. The cause of the fire is undetermined at this time.

Report filed: 11:00 hours March 3rd, 1999